Flutterby™! : DWI versus reckless endangerment 2000-12-23 21:14:15+00

DWI versus reckless endangerment

2000-12-23 21:14:15+00 by Dan Lyke 5 comments

Yet another reason the very concept of DWI is stupid: Judge tosses case against driver on kava tea, saying prosecutors had failed to show that the beverage had impaired the driver's ability. Hello, the guy was weaving through traffic and driving erratically, and we don't have rules to take him down for that? If he'd been randomly firing a gun in a shopping mall we'd charge him, but let him recklessly throw two tons of lethal steel around a highway and we've gotta show that it "wasn't his fault"? This is the problem with drunk driving laws in general, we need to stop blaming the substance and start blaming the actions.

Absolutely. Scrap all DWI laws, and resurrect the "reckless driving" charge (which is rarely used any more). No more breathalyzers, no more "safety-check" road blocks, just pull 'em over.

Yeah, what he said. Accountability for actions, the rest is irrelavent.... but I ate a twinky and those turn me into a homicidal maniac so it's not my fault.

Actually, thinking about it... Can you imagine the sort of abuses that could result from the police being able to cite anyone they want for reckless driving? I suppose things like cameras in the cruisers would eliminate a lot of these problems... But one cop with a bad attitude, in a small town with a hick judge, could do a lot of damage.

I think tighter restrictions on driver's licensing is a better solution. Driving is not a right.

We've already seen the abuses that resulted from local speed limit laws, but eventually they managed to sort themselves out. One of the things I'd like to see in conjunction with a change in driving liability rules is a change in the way we deal with corrupt cops. I mean, the LAPD's been notorious for decades and with the recent Ramparts reversal we've seen yet another situation where the corrupt will walk.